In this section, you will find information on a wide array of legal issues that often affect Americans traveling or living abroad.

These include "private matters" such as the need for a foreign attorney or for a document to be notarized. Or, you may be looking for information on documenting the birth of an American citizen abroad, renunciation of U.S. citizenship, and matters related to dual nationality.

You will also find information about "public matters" such as our international law obligations with regard to foreign nationals arrested or detained in the United States and other treaty, legal or public policy matters.

This section provides guidance about how to service legal documents abroad; how to obtain evidence abroad; procedures for authentication/legalization of foreign public documents, preparation of letters rogatory and enforcement of judgments.

This section provides general information and links to key consular-related treaties including Consular Conventions, private international law treaties on legalization of documents, service of process, obtaining evidence abroad, international child abduction, international adoption, and prisoner transfer.

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